Thinking Out Loud wins 2012 North America Cup June 16 at Mohawk Racetrack.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The field of six 3-year-old pacers heading to Northfield Park for Saturday night's $130,000 Cleveland Classic may be smaller than hoped, but Executive Vice President of Racing/Simulcast Dave Bianconi said he's lined up quality, not quantity.

"Overall, I don't think we've ever had a better bunch in the history of the Cleveland Classic," said Bianconi. "Four of these horses have to be considered among the best 3-year-olds in the country right now. This is an amazingly strong field."

When Bianconi confirmed on Wednesday morning that Thinking Out Loud, Bolt The Duer, Pet Rock and A Rocknroll Dance were all entering the late fall classic, he said a few horse owners and trainers who were on the fence decided against coming to Northfield Park.

"The quality of those four horses scared away a few people who were considering entering their horses," said Bianconi.

Thinking Out Loud, with Ohio reinsman David Miller in the sulky, drew the rail post position Wednesday and was named the 2-1 morning line favorite.

The Cleveland Classic is the 11th race on the card with an approximate post time of 10:50 p.m.

Winner of the $1.47 million North American Cup with a career-best mile of 1:47.4 at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario, Thinking Out Loud is owned and trained by Robert McIntosh. Sired by Ponder, the colt has won 10 of 27 career starts and $1.25 million.

Bolt the Duer, also a son of Ponder, won this year's $415,820 Messenger Stakes at New York's Yonkers Raceway, the last leg of harness racing's Triple Crown for 3-year-old pacers. The 7-2 second choice in the morning line, Bolt the Duer has won 14 career races and banked just over $1 million. He posted his career best of 1:47.4 at The Meadows in Washington, Pa.

The outstanding sire Rocknroll Hanover has four offspring in the Cleveland Classic: Pet Rock, Rockin Finish, Mortal Zin and A Rocknroll Dance.

A Rocknroll Dance is from trainer Jim Mulinix's A Rocknroll Dance Stable of Wauseon, Ohio, and is the richest sophomore in the race with almost $2 million in career earnings. He has won 11 of 32 starts, including this year's $600,000 Meadowlands Pace.

Matt Kakaley, who kicked off his driving career at Northfield Park, will handle Mortal Zin for trainer Ron Burke of Pennsylvania's Burke Racing Stable. Pet Rock and Rockin Finish are both trained by Columbus, Ohio native Virgil Morgan Jr. Pet Rock won the $215,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park in Melrose Park, Ill., and is just shy of $1 million in earnings with 10 victories in 26 career starts.

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